Pardon My Bias

This is what the season comes down to for the San Francisco Giants and the San Diego Padres. Final 3 games of the season is going to determine who wins the NL West crown and heads into the postseason. For the Giants, the magic number is 1. If the Giants win just one game this series, they clinch the NL West. For the Padres, they need to sweep the Giants in this three game series in San Francisco, plus beat them in a tiebreaker. The Padres have played well most of the season but they have struggled down the stretch and I just dont think a sweep of the Giants is possible especially in San Francisco. I like the killer instinct the Giants have by putting Matt Cain on the mound tonight. Cain is 12-10 with a 2.95 ERA this season and he is easily the Giants hottest pitcher right now. The Giants want to finish the Padres off tonight and not give them any hope. I am confident the Giants will take care of this series and win the NL West, but I’m not going to stop there. I feel these Giants are special and can make a deep playoff run as the Bay Area faithful rally around them.

The Giants may have more to celebrate about by the end of this weekend. Picture courtesy of http://padres.gearupforsports.com

Granted, the Giants don’t have the offensive power like the Yankees, Rays, Rangers, or Phillies but the Giants arguably have the best starting rotation in all of the MLB. A rotation featuring Lincecum, Cain, Sanchez, and Bumgarner is sure to give opposing hitters a nightmare. If the offense manages to put up runs early in the game, the Giants become almost unbeatable. In games when they score the first run the Giants are 62-19, this shows the pitching staff can hold onto a lead once they get some run support. In the playoffs there aren’t gonna be many high scoring games, games are won by great pitching and it doesn’t get much better than the Giants pitching.  This pitching staff has allowed 3 runs or less in 90 games this season. The Giants have also been in many high pressure situations all year long, in games that were decide by 1 run the Giants are 27-22 this season and they are 16-8 in 1 run games in the latter half of the season. This Giant team is loaded with veterans like Aubrey Huff, Pat Burrell, Andres Torres, Jose Guillen,and Freddy Sanchez.  They also have good young talent in Buster Posey (possible ROTY), Pablo Sandoval, Tim Lincecum, Cain, and Madison Bumgarner.While not a power team, the Giants have gone deep in 91 different games this season. In fact, when the Giants hit a home run they are 62-29 this season. The Giants are armed with strong pitchers and an offense that can get the job done. And let’s not forget about manager Bruce Bochy doing a great coaching job with this team. The Giants have the makeup of a team that be dangerous in October.

Don't be surprised to see many more of these celebrations throughout October. Picture courtesy of http://padres.gearupforsports.com

This is just an opinion..so please Pardon My Bias.

PMB Week 4 NFL Picks

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3

This is just an opinion so please…Pardon My Bias

A lot of things happen in sports that really make me question stuff. A lot of things happen in sports that really piss me off as well. There’s just a lot of things, that make me say, “Man, are you serious?”

The NBA offseason just added a few more sparks to what have been fireworks all summer. Trade talk of Carmelo Anthony being traded to the New Jersey Nets have heated up and is pending on Melo signing an extension with New Jersey. We got another superstar moving to the East? “Man, are you serious?” I’m sure if the Nets are able to sign Melo, the next guy they would try to acquire is Chris Paul next summer to make another powerhouse.

Bynum will be out till November, photo courtesy of http://with-malice.com

News came out that Andrew Bynum will not be ready for training camp because he delayed his surgery by a month. A lot of Lakers fans are freaking out because Bynum won’t be ready. They are comparing him to Kobe, saying that Kobe would do anything to be ready for the season. “Man, are you serious?” Andrew Bynum is not Kobe Bryant. Newsflash: there is no one else in the league that is like Kobe Bryant. No one has the will and determination to win that Kobe does. He is the most competitive player in the league, and to compare Bynum to him is ridiculous. Bynum will be ready for when it matters like Phil Jackson said – in May and June. Calm down folks, the Lakers played without Bynum plenty of times and they will manage.

The NBA will roll out a tougher technical policy again this year like they did in 2005-06. If you thought the old one was bad, this one is completely ludicrous. Here are the guidelines for which the refs are to use to call technical fouls:

• Players making aggressive gestures, such as air punches, anywhere on the court.

• Demonstrative disagreement, such as when a player incredulously raises his hands, or smacks his own arm to demonstrate how he was fouled.

• Running directly at an official to complain about a call.

• Excessive inquiries about a call, even in a civilized tone.

“Man, are you serious?” Good thing Rasheed retired, because he wouldn’t even be able to step on the floor without getting T’d up. This is ridiculous; I hope the refs ditch this policy after like 5 games like they did in 05-06. You can’t take the emotion out of the game without ruining the game. I’d hate to see a close game decided by the officials calling T’s because the players are emotional. The system as is works, so don’t try to fix it.

The Jets got themselves into some more non-football related headlines when Braylon Edwards was pulled over early Tuesday morning and blew a 0.16 on the breathalyzer. Three other players were in the car with him. “Man, are you serious?” If the whole Azteca reporter controversy wasn’t enough, the Jets go and screw up again. Rex Ryan has himself one controversial team, which likes to eat Big Macs before they hit the field in a scrimmage. Looks like the Hard Knocks spotlight is getting to some these guys, and they need to get their act together.

1. New Orleans Saints (2-0)

Last Week Ranking: 1

Saints showed they still got the late game magic winning a big one on Monday Night against a hungry Niners team.

Clay Matthews has 6 sacks, photo courtesy of bleacherreport.com

2. Green Bay Packers (2-0)

Last Week Ranking: 3

It looks like this division is the Packer’s to lose. Clay Matthews is a stud on defense already racking up 6 sacks. The Pack are putting up big points.

3. Houston Texans (2-0)

Last Week Ranking: 6

The Texans forced me to put them here. They pulled out an amazing win, with some shenanigans from Gary Kubiak on the timeout call. But a win is a win. How ‘bout them cowboys – no scratch that – how ‘bout them Texans!

4. Indianapolis Colts (1-1)

Last Week Ranking: 7

Indy took care of business Sunday night and finally looked like the Colts again. Freeny and Matthis were nasty all night not giving Eli any time in the pocket.

Polamalu is creatving havoc on defense, photo courtesy of http://fantasyknuckleheads.com

5. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-0)

Last Week Ranking: 10

Do the Steelers even need a quarterback? I think the defense would be ready to go all 60 minutes. Let’s see how much water the Steelers can keep treading without Ben.

6. New York Jets (1-1)

Last Week Ranking: 7

Guess “Sanchize” can throw which answered a big concern of mine. Big division win for the Jets, one that can carry some momentum.

7. New England Patriots (1-1)

Last Week Ranking: 4

New England definitely got a tough draw to open the season with their first two games against playoff teams. The road loss hurts because it favors the argument that the Pats can’t win on the road after last year’s 2-6 road record.

8. Miami Dolphins (2-0)

Last Week Ranking: 17

Surprised to see the fish up here? Yeah, you should be, but they earned it. A big road win in Minnesota got them here. The Dolphins are trying to make a run for the division a la 2008.

9. Cincinnati Bengals (1-1)

Last Week Ranking: 19

It was a nice recovery for a team that chastised last week for putting up all out fluke job against the Pats. You have to win division games at home to win the AFC North.

10. Baltimore Ravens (1-1)

Last Week Ranking: 2

The NFL didn’t do the Ravens any favors by giving them two road games against playoff teams to start the season. Joe Flacco looked terrible for the first time, and I think they can write this loss off on him just having a bad day at the office.

11. San Diego Chargers (1-1)

Last Week Ranking: 13

The Chargers took care of business the way they should have. Too bad they didn’t do that week 1.

12. Chicago Bears (2-0)

Last Week Ranking: 24

I had to move the Bears up after they started the season 2-0. The Bears got the job done going into Dallas and taking care of business. The Mike Martz offense had some bright spots.

13. Atlanta Falcons (1-1)

Last Week Ranking: 15

The Falcons have a real concern with Michael Turner and his health on their hands. Next week’s matchup with the Saints is a crucial one because game 2 against New Orleans comes in week 16.

14. Tampa Buccaneers (2-0)

Last Week Ranking: 29

I am impressed with the win in Carolina. The Bucs are buying into Josh Freeman and he’s making them look good. Freeman looks like a young Rothlisbeger.

15. Kansas City Chiefs (2-0)

Last Week Ranking: 23

The Chiefs got a road win they needed in Cleveland to keep building the momentum from the week 1 victory against San Diego. Next week is a big home game against the Niners.

16. Washington Redskins (1-1)

Last Week Ranking: 11

The Redskins played well until they just had a collapse. I like what I saw from McNabb and the offense, but the defense has to pick it up. Lucky for them, the rest of the division isn’t any better.

17. Philadelphia Eagles (1-1)

Last Week Ranking: 18

Whether you want to admit it or not, Vick looks good. He should be the starter if the Eagles are serious about winning this division.

18. Tennessee Titans (1-1)

Last Week Ranking: 8

I was hesitant to give the Titans as much credit as I did last week because I saw their stock dropping in the near forecast just because of the inconsistency of Vince Young. Fisher isn’t going to sit there and let you screw up again and again.

19. San Francisco 49ers (0-2)

Last Week Ranking: 20

I’m going to say it right now – if the Niners don’t win in Kansas City next week, they have a serious problem on their hands. Not too many must win week 3 games, but if I’ve ever seen one, its next week for San Fran. Only reason they didn’t drop this week was because they really almost beat the defending champs.

20. New York Giants (1-1)

Last Week Ranking: 12

The Giants got jacked up by big Manning. That O-line has to give Eli more time in the pocket if they want to win games.

21. Denver Broncos (1-1)

Last Week Ranking: 27

Beating a team who’s riding a big win in the previous week at home is always a positive sign.

22. Arizona Cardinals (1-1)

Last Week Ranking: 22

Kart Warner…PLEASE COME BACK!!

23. Dallas Cowboys (0-2)

Last Week Ranking: 14

The Cowboys look bad, really bad. Only positive is Ware who is tearing it up.

24. Minnesota Vikings  (0-2)

Last Week Ranking: 5

Favre needs to be looking at AARP brochures instead of playbooks. I’m going to start the campaign right here, right now: “BRING IN T-JACK!!”

25. Oakland Raiders (1-1)

Last Week Ranking: 26

Ugly win against St. Louis but Raiders Nation will take it.

26. Seattle Seahawks (1-1)

Last Week Ranking: 16

I’d love to see the current USC team play the Seahawks since they can’t go to a bowl game.

27. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1)

Last Week Ranking: 21

Surgeon General Warning on David Gerrard still in full effect.

28. Detroit Lions (0-2)

Last Week Ranking: 28

I’m cheering for you Detroit, I’m cheering for you. Another close loss.

29. Carolina Panthers (0-2)

Last Week Ranking: 25

Carolina had a disappointing loss to the Bucs and next week play the Bengals. Write them in for 0-3.

30. St. Louis Rams (0-2)

Last Week Ranking: 30

Rams are still competing. I like Bradford, he looks like he can develop into something special.

31. Buffalo Bills (0-2)

Last Week Ranking: 31

The Bills O-line got drilled by Clay Matthews all day long. It got ugly.

32. Cleveland Browns (0-2)

Last Week Ranking: 32

I can’t even muster up something positive to say about the Browns.

Here are some of my thoughts after watching Week 2 of the NFL season.

Minnesota Vikings: Is this what Brett Favre came back for? The offense has been out of sync and turnover prone (largely due to Favre). His timing with his receivers is incredibly off, especially since he is without Sydney Rice. See Brett? This is where training camp comes in handy, so you don’t come into the season unprepared and looking like you’re still playing preseason games. The offense has looked pretty bad so far and has managed to put up a total of 19 points this season when they averaged 29 points a game last season. Favre himself has thrown 4 interceptions already this season while he only threw 7 all of last season. Sitting at 0-2 is a little unsettling especially if you look at their upcoming schedule. Following the Week 4 Bye, they have to play the Jets, Cowboys, Packers, and Patriots. To make matters worse, 3 of the 4 are on the road. They could easily find themselves at 1-6 by November 1st. The Bottom Line: The Vikings need to get it together soon or there wont be a postseason for them.

San Francisco 49ers: Even though they are 0-2 the 49ers have to be pleased with their ability to compete with the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night. The 49ers thoroughly dominated the Saints in almost all aspects of the game for about 58 minutes and 30 seconds. However, I saw some of the same mistakes by the 49ers offense. Alex Smith needs to play every drive like its a 2 minute drill. He had poise, defense recognition, accuracy, athleticism; he essentially showcased why he was the #1 overall pick in 2005, he just needs to do it more consistently. Gore was an absolute beast in the backfield and in the flats as a receiver, he controlled the Saints defense. The 49ers need to cut down on the turnovers. David Baas’ snap that sailed way over Smith ended in a safety and was a bad start to the game. Smith’s inaccuracy on the dump off to Gore near the Saints 30 yard line was a big blow. Delaney Walker’s fumble at the Saints 8 yard line was an even bigger blow. And Phillip Adams’ muffed punt return at the SF 17 yard line that allowed the Saints to extend their lead to 22-14 may have been the biggest blow. The Bottom Line: The 49ers need to stop shooting themselves in the foot.

Alex Smith seems to finally have a grasp of this offense. Picture courtesy of Getty Images and Yahoo Sports.

Chicago Bears: I’ll admit it, I’m a big believer in Jay Cutler and Mike Martz’s offensive scheme. Martz has the perfect weapons at his disposal: a strong- armed QB, speedy WRs, and a RB that can catch out of the backfield. Sounds kinda like the St. Louis Rams with Kurt Warner, Tory Holt, Isaac Bruce, Az-Zahir Hakim, and Marshall Faulk doesn’t it? Albeit, it is not quite as good but the pieces are there for Martz to succeed as the offensive coordinator. And the result? The Bears are off to a surprising 2-0 start. Not sure how long they can ride their hot-streak, but they have the Packers coming in on Monday night this week, this will be the true test. The Bottom Line: The Bears are for real and don’t be surprised to see them in the playoffs.

Pittsburgh Steelers: All I can say is wow. That Steelers defense is simply amazing. The offense is not turning the ball over and taking what they can get, but the defense is truly leading them so far this season. Last week against the Titans the Steelers had 3 interceptions (2 of which were off Vince Young and led to his benching), forced 7 fumbles and recovered 4 fumbles. The Steelers defense is literally insane and it’s not hard seeing them go 4-0 into their Week 5 Bye and Big Ben’s return. Troy Polamalu and James Harrison are back and have this defense locked in as a unit and they are simply dominating the opposition. The Steelers are poised for another Super Bowl run and it is just scary to think how good they can be once Rothlisberger gets the offense on track. The Bottom Line: The Steelers odds for making the Super Bowl just increased.

The Steelers Defense is just as good as ever. Picture courtesy of the the New York Times.

This is just an opinion…so please Pardon My Bias.

Rex Ryan and Bill Belichick are anything but friends, photo courtesy of http://www.nj.com

Preview:

Week 2 of the NFL has many good matchups but the highlight is the New England Patriots traveling to the New Meadowlands Stadium to play division rival New York Jets. This matchup last year between the Jets and Pats was split 1-1. A lot of subplots to this matchup have been brewing since last year when Rex Ryan was given the head coaching job of the New York Jets and it is no secret that these teams do not like each other. Ryan has said, “I never came here to kiss Bill Belichick’s rings. I came to win, let’s put it that way. So we’ll see what happens. I’m certainly not intimidated by New England or anybody else.” Both teams have playoff aspirations, but both will have to do well in the AFC East to get there. The Jets have fought as an underdog in a division that has been mostly dominated by the Patriots over the last few years. This has developed as a great division rivalry and this week should not disappoint.

New England is coming off a big win in Week 1 against the Cincinnati Bengals 38-24 with Tom Brady throwing for 248 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Patriots also got a huge comeback performance from Wes Welker who caught for 64 yards and 2 touchdowns. The score was much closer than the game really was, with the Patriots going into the locker game at halftime up 24-3. The Patriots dominated a strong playoff team from last year and surprised many. This is a road game for the Patriots, something which they struggled with last year with a 2-6 road record. One of those wins came in London, which both teams were technically on the road for. This will be a big test for the Patriots who want to prove they can win in a hostile environment as well.

The New York Jets are coming in with 0-1 record after losing to the Baltimore Ravens 10-9 in a defensive battle on Monday Night. Another big loss for the Jets last week was losing DT Kris Jenkins with a torn ACL.  The Jets come in on a short work week with hopes of not falling in a 0-2 hole. The last team to win the Super Bowl after starting a season 0-2 was the New York Giants who won it in 2007. There are high hopes for the Jets who have been well storied this offseason as the featured team on HBO’s Hard Knocks. Running back Shonn Greene who was given the starting job this season had a disappointing debut with 2 fumbles. Greene will have to rebound for the Jets to get back to their “ground and pound” offense which was so successful for them last season. This is an important game for the Jets and a lot will be told how their season will go after this week.

Key Matchup:

Randy Moss will be tightly covered by Darrelle Revis. Moss certainly has had his trouble on Revis Island. Last year in their first matchup, Moss finished with 4 receptions and 24 yards. In the second matchup, Moss got 5 receptions with 34 yards with a touchdown. Revis has had great success against Moss, and he has came out and called Moss a “slouch” for his poor play and effort. Moss has also made some other headlines in the past week not happy with his contract situation in New England. Moss is in a contract season and is definitely out to prove something as well. Fantasy owners who have Moss have a tough decision of starting him or not because of his poor performances against the Jets in the past. Whoever wins this matchup will be a major key for the winning team.

Player Who Needs to Step Up:

Mark Sanchez clearly has to step up for the Jets. Last week Sanchez finished with only 74 passing yards. Although Sanchez did not turn the ball over, he did not take any risks or down field shots. Sanchez will have to do more than check down to beat the Patriots who are capable of putting up a lot of points. Sanchez will need to allow some time for the offense to develop down field before he automatically looks for the check down. He should have more time in the pocket to do so this week without facing that physical Ravens front line. Sanchez will have to throw the ball more if he wants to be the quarterback of a Super Bowl team.

Sanchez has a lot to prove, photo courtesy of http://lesterslegends.com

This will be a fantastic game, so make sure you’re watching!

This is just an opinion, so please…Pardon My Bias.

A lot of things happen in sports that really make me question stuff. A lot of things happen in sports that really piss me off as well. There’s just a lot of things, that make me say, “Man, are you serious?”

The Detroit Lions almost pulled a huge upset victory with Calvin Johnson catching a game-winning touchdown. He put the ball down and got up to celebrate with his team. When reviewed, the play was overturned and called an incomplete pass because Johnson didn’t “complete the process.” What process? He caught the ball with two feet in bounds! If it looks like a touchdown, feels like a touchdown, even smells like a touchdown, IT’S A TOUCHDOWN! That rule needs to be changed immediately. When I saw that overturned, all I could say is, “man, are you serious?”

The Jets have found themselves in some trouble when a few players were giving cat calls and playfully throwing footballs at Azteca reporter Ines Sainz. I decided to google image Ines Sainz, and I found out that she is an attractive woman. If you enter a locker room, full of half naked (sometimes fully naked) men, who are rigged up with testosterone and you are dressed like that, please expect to get hit on. The locker room is not a media gathering, it has guys cursing, some in good moods, some in bad moods; you take the risk when you walk in. This is a locker room, not a board room. Now I’m not saying the Jets were right, but she’s not as innocent as she seems. This whole thing is being blown out of proportion in my opinion, and has me saying, “man, are you serious?”

Reggie gave up the Heisman this week, photo courtesy of http://newsone.com

With this whole Heisman scandal going on with Reggie Bush (who vacated it earlier this week), of all people Mack Brown has come out and opened his mouth. First thing that came to my mind was, ”man, are you serious?” Mack Brown is out stumping for former Texas QB Vince Young to be named the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner if Bush has to vacate it. First off, Reggie earned it. Without knowing all the allegations, there was no doubt that Reggie Bush had the best year. Sure Vince Young got the last laugh in the National Championship game, but that doesn’t count towards the Heisman. Let it go Mack, it’s time to move on and be happy with your chip.

Word came out that Shannon Sharpe will leave CBS’s NFL Today due to an assault allegation. While it’s the right move for Sharpe, it had me wondering, ”man, are you serious?” Shannon Sharpe is pure entertainment, he made the NFL Today what it is. I don’t understand one word that Sharpe says, but it sounds awesome when he says it. Watching the NFL on CBS will no longer be the same.

This is just an opinion, so please…Pardon My Bias.

Pardon My Bias Week 2 NFL Picks

Week 1

This is just an opinion…so please Pardon My Bias.

Brees and the Saints are the team to beat, photo courtesy of http://www.midwestsportsfans.com

1.        New Orleans Saints (1-0)     Last Week Ranking: 1

The Saints took care of the Vikings in a low scoring affair for the season opener Thursday night.  Brees was accurate and played well putting up 237 yards and a TD against a solid Vikings defense. Saints are still the team to beat.

2.        Baltimore Ravens (1-0)     Last Week Ranking: 2

The Ravens played in a defensive slugfest Monday night and backed up what Ray Lewis was preaching, beating the Jets 10-9 on the road. The Ravens proved they are still one of the best, if not the best, defense in the league. Flacco handled the pressure well aside from the first play. All the critics who though Boldin wouldn’t put the Ravens over the top were dead wrong, he is exactly what the Ravens need. For everyone who thought Ray Lewis was getting slow, he proved he can still light it up.

3.        Green Bay Packers (1-0)     Last Week Ranking: 3

The Packers looked a little shaky but were able to come into Philadelphia and take care of business. The score looked a lot closer than the game really was. The Packers lost Ryan Grant for the rest of the season which is a scare. Oh yeah, Clay Mathews is a beast.

4.        New England Patriots (1-0)     Last Week Ranking: 9

The Patriots took a big jump this week with an impressive victory over the Bengals. Brady looked good and Wes Welker is back in a big way catching for 2 TDs. This week they Patriots play divisional rival New York Jets which should be a great matchup. Don’t sleep on the Patriots just yet.

5.        Minnesota Vikings (0-1)     Last Week Ranking: 5

The Vikings had a tough road game in a season opener against the defending champions. They were in it the whole game and had a chance to win at the end. Favre looked rusty, and I think if he had gone to camp, it would have made a difference. I think the Vikings are still a great team and will rebound from this.

Foster torched the Colts week 1, photo courtesy of http://www.fantasypros.com

6.        Houston Texans (1-0)     Last Week Ranking: 16

The Texans finally got the monkey off their back of beating the Colts. This could be the momentum they need to make it a playoff season. They also established quite the running game with Arian Foster who ran for 231 yards and 3 TDs (fantasy stud). Add that to an amazing passing game, the Texans are an offensive force to be reckoning with.

7.        Indianapolis Colts (0-1)     Last Week Ranking: 4

Everyone was right about Peyton Manning, he’s still amazing. He got his with 433 yards and 3 TDs, but it was the defense that blew up. The so-called “improved run defense” was anything but that, letting Foster rack up 231 on them. Bob Sanders got hurt again too. This team is great offensively, but will need to step it up on defense to reach their Super Bowl aspirations.

8.        Tennessee Titans (1-0)     Last Week Ranking: 13

The Titans dismantled the Raiders and looked good doing it. Chris Johnson picked up where he left off last year rushing for 142 and 2 TDs. The Titans defense looked good as well. The AFC South is going to be one competitive division. Next week will be a test for Young against the Steelers.

9.        New York Jets (0-1)     Last Week Ranking: 6

The Jets defense: amazing. The Jets offense: horrible. Sanchez continued to check down the whole night without letting anything develop. Only bright side is he didn’t turn the ball over. Against any other team, Jets probably win, but against the top defense in the league, they lose because of the offense. Only one 3^rd down conversion won’t get it done. Penalties really hurt the Jets as well. Revis looked good but Kyle Wilson and Antonio Cromartie got burned multiple times. Less talk, more play. “Now let’s go get a goddam snack!”

10.    Pittsburgh Steelers (1-0)     Last Week Ranking: 20

The Steelers got the job done. In a FG happy game, Dixon gave the Steelers a chance to win the game, which they did in OT. The defense can still play and keep them in games.

McNabb led the Redskins to a victory against the Cowboys, photo courtesy of http://www.timesleader.com

11.    Washington Redskins (1-0)     Last Week Ranking: 18

The Redskins looked pretty good against the Cowboys, and the Cowboys looked pretty bad at the same time. This team has the potential to build chemistry and momentum to make some real noise in D.C.

12.    New York Giants (1-0)     Last Week Ranking: 14

Giants found a way to win on Sunday. Eli threw 3 TDs to Nicks, but also 3 picks. The defense had its ups and downs. Consistency is a concern with the G-men. I’m interested to see how they do against the Colts Sunday night.

13.    San Diego Chargers (0-1)     Last Week Ranking: 10

The Chargers were shocked by the Chiefs. The rain and the noise really bothered the Chargers, which was made evident by Philip Rivers who was steaming in the 4^th quarter. A couple wide receiver slips hurt the Chargers, and this opened some eyes in San Diego. You can’t sleepwalk through games, and Norv Turner needs to get his troops ready every week. I look for the Chargers to rebound next week.

14.    Dallas Cowboys (0-1)     Last Week Ranking: 7

I’m not surprised that the Cowboys lost. Penalties killed them and they buried their own grave Sunday. It was time the Cowboys received a reality check, they are a mediocre team, and Super Bowl hope are far from reality. On the bright side, DeMarcus Ware was everywhere.

15.    Atlanta Falcons (0-1)     Last Week Ranking: 8

The Falcons were quite disappointing this past week losing to the Steelers. The Steelers have a good defense but these are the type of games the Falcons have to win if they want to make it to the playoffs. They need to go back to the drawing board.

16.    Seattle Seahawks (1-0)     Last Week Ranking: 24

I was not expecting this from Pete Carroll and the Seahawks but they came ready to play on Sunday. The beat the 49ers in a big way and should be proud of it. The NFC West is up for grabs and the Seahawks showed that they are serious about taking it.

17.    Miami Dolphins (1-0)     Last Week Ranking: 17

The Dolphins didn’t play great but they got the win. Ronnie Brown still isn’t getting full carries and looks like he will be splitting them with Ricky Williams all season. Brandon Marshall had a decent debut. Dolphins will be middle of the pack all year.

Vick did a good job taking over for Kolb, phot courtesy of http://blog.pennlive.com/

18.    Philadelphia Eagles (0-1)     Last Week Ranking: 15

Kevin Kolb got knocked out by Clay Mathews and Vick stepped in and played well. Watch for Sal Palantonio reporting on the QB controversy in Philly for the next few weeks. Please get DeSean Jackson the ball, he’s pretty good.

19.    Cincinnati Bengals (0-1)     Last Week Ranking: 12

The Bengals got cleaned out by the Pats at home. The first half was an embarrassment. Even though Batman and Robin got theirs, the Bengals went away from what works. Cedric Benson got them in the playoffs last year and they need to go back to that running game if they want to make it back to the playoff.

20.    San Francisco 49ers (0-1)     Last Week Ranking: 11

The 49ers and Bengals were the two biggest disappointments of week 1. There was so much hype in San Fran and they laid a complete egg. Where are Crabtree and Gore? Need to go back to the drawing board. The weak NFC West is now wide open. One more thing, why the hell is Singletary thanking Pete Carroll for “kicking their tails”? Please don’t do that.

21.    Jacksonville Jaguars (1-0)     Last Week Ranking: 26

David Garrard played well throwing for 170 yards and 3 TDs. Consistency is a big factor with Garrard. I wouldn’t get too hyped on the Jags just yet.

22.    Arizona Cardinals (1-0)     Last Week Ranking: 21

The Cardinals snuck in a win in St. Louis, but the problems are evident. This is a big drop off from Kurt Warner. Steve Breaston had a nice game and will develop to be a star this season for the Cardinals.

23.    Kansas City Chiefs (1-0)     Last Week Ranking: 27

The Chiefs definitely surprised me Monday night. For the first time in a long time, the Chiefs are on top of the AFC West. The crowd was electric and the young guys were full of energy. The Chiefs have a real rushing tandem with Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles.

24.    Chicago Bears (1-0)     Last Week Ranking: 23

The Bears got an ugly win on what should have been a TD from Calvin Johnson. Forte played great who Martz is using as a Marshal Faulk type role. The Bears are on the brink of being decent and being horrible.

25.    Carolina Panthers (0-1)     Last Week Ranking: 25

The Panthers played hard and gave good effort against the Giants but were not able to capitalize. Moore needs more snaps and hopefully can show some positive things by the end of the season.

26.    Oakland Raiders (0-1)     Last Week Ranking: 19

Being a Raiders fan, I’m extremely disappointed. The Raiders came out not ready to play football. They were run off that field by the Titans. The offensive line may be the biggest, but it needs some major work. The only positive out of this was Run DMC who finally had himself a good game. I hope the Raiders don’t let the hype go to waste.

27.    Denver Broncos (0-1)     Last Week Ranking: 22

Can we stop with the Tim Tebow stuff now? He’s not going to play. The running game is a big question for the Broncos. Josh McDaniels has dug himself in quite a hole.

Calvin Johnson almost had the game winner, photo courtesy of http://caicogarden.com.

28.    Detroit Lions (0-1)     Last Week Ranking: 28

I’m going to give the Lions a little love. They should have won that game and that was a touchdown. That rule needs to be changed. I’m happy to see the Lions playing hard and competing. This attitude will get the Lions some wins this year.

29.    Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-0)     Last Week Ranking: 31

Sure the Bucs won, but they beat the Browns. That’s not going to climb them too hype up the chart, but a good win nonetheless.

30.    St. Louis Rams (0-1)     Last Week Ranking: 30

The Rams competed, and that’s all you can ask for. They had a chance to win that one , and that is the kind of improvement you look for in a team led by a rookie QB.

31.    Buffalo Bills (0-1)     Last Week Ranking: 32

I guess all that C.J. Spiller hype went down the drain. I know fantasy owners were mad, 7 carries for 6 yards will earn you a lot of drops.  The Bills need to run the ball, but they have to give a couple guys the bulk of the carries to be successful.

32.    Cleveland Browns (0-1)     Last Week Ranking: 29

The Browns are really that bad. Losing to the Buccaneers puts you straight to the bottom.

This is just an opinion, so please…Pardon My Bias.

SEC football is simply the best in college football. Picture courtesy of gsmstnews.com

The facts speak for themselves.  The SEC is head and shoulders above any other conference in college football.  Since the BCS has been enforced in 1998, the SEC is the only conference with a winning record in the BCS National Championship game.  In fact, the SEC is 6-0 in the National Championship game and the last 4 championship games have been won by an SEC team.  Alabama, Florida, and LSU have combined to be the last National Champs and the games haven’t even been close for the most part. The BCS championship game in 2007 showed a thorough bashing of the Ohio State Buckeyes at the hands of the Florida Gators. Ohio State made it back to the championship game the following year as well, but the result was the same. This time the LSU Tigers kept the Buckeyes in check and were in complete control the entire game en route to a 38-24 victory. In 2009, Florida and Oklahoma played a close game but Florida and the SEC once again emerged victorious.Last year Alabama picked apart the Texas Longhorns (I know Texas QB Colt McCoy was knocked out early) and even though the Longhorns threatened late in the game, the Crimson Tide’s defense stepped up and pulled away. I really hope the BCS has learned its lesson and does not allow Ohio State back in the National Championship game over a strong SEC team like Florida with the same record.  Ohio State had two opportunities to prove themselves in 2007 and 2008 and ended up being throttled as they were thoroughly over matched by an SEC team. Ohio State has talented players, but they are just not good enough against quality SEC opponents. Ohio Sate’s record of 0-9 all-time in bowl games versus SEC teams easily proves this. The SEC is the best football conference and the other “powerhouses” have a long way to go in order to catch up.

I hope I don't have to see Ohio State get embarrassed in another National Championship game. Picture courtesy of Bleacher Report.

All time the SEC is 259-126-10 versus the ACC, 67-48-2 versus the Big 10, and 24-17 versus the Big 12. The SEC has better talent and more speed than any of the other conferences and these records prove it. And this brings me to my gripe with the current rankings.  Boise State and TCU DO NOT deserve a top 5 ranking. I said it, and I will be glad to receive all the criticism for doing so.  If a team truly wants to be a top 5 team in the nation, then they need to prove it throughout the season.  I’m tired of hearing about Boise State and TCU going undefeated with these cupcake schedules. What does it really say about Boise State when they barely beat an over ranked #10 Virginia Tech (who lost to an FCS team in week 2)? Boise State used their 4 non-conference schedule games to play against Virginia Tech, Wyoming, # 25 Oregon State (a team that only lost to TCU 30-21), and Toledo. TCU is almost as bad, but atleast they have a reasinably tough opponent in Utah. But they were already challenged by an Oregon State team that was unranked going into their matchup and TCU only came away with a 30-21 win.  Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t blame these teams for doing these cupcake schedules especially when they start the season ranked so high.  It is definitely in their best interest to make an easy schedule in order to run the table and have their best shot at a National Title game. My blame lies with the system.

Neither Boise State nor TCU deserve a National Championship spot until they play a schedule comparable to their SEC/Big 10/Big 12/Pac 10 counter-parts. Picture courtesy of zimbio.com

Teams with weak conference opposition shouldn’t be ranked in the top 10, it is simply unfair to teams in other conferences. I highly doubt that a team that goes 7-1 in the WAC or MWC is better than a team that goes 6-2 in the SEC, Big 10, Big 12, or Pac 10. And even if a team goes undefeated in the WAC or MWC, it still doesn’t say much when compared to a team that plays tough competition week in and week out. There is a reason why there are 6 SEC teams ranked in the Top 16, more than any other conference. This is where the BCS system is flawed, when it sees a 7-0 Boise State or TCU team beat a 6-1 conference opponent, there is no difference if it were to see a 7-0 Alabama beat a 6-1 SEC opponent like Florida. Clearly to the rationale mind a 6-1 Florida team is way better than any other WAC or MWC team, but the BCS system is just a program and it doesn’t see it that way. Teams like Boise State and TCU should be held out of the Top 10 until they can play and beat Top 25 teams more than once a year.  I’m not saying Boise State and TCU are bad teams, they are good teams and can beat a solid SEC/Big 10/Big 12/ PAC 10 team any given Saturday. But I highly doubt they could even go 10-2 in any of those conferences, especially the SEC. The rigorous season schedule that Alabama, Florida, LSU, Arkansas, Auburn, and South Carolina play would wear down these pretenders. In order to be a Top 10 team, let alone Top 5 team, the team should be challenged by opposition in the Top 25 atleast 4 times a year. The flawed BCS system has made it possible for one of the most ridiculous National Championship Games in history to occur.  How insane would it be to see Ohio State Vs Boise State/TCU, while an 11-1 SEC team is forced to sit out? I would refuse to watch such a game and I know I am not alone.

This is just an opinion…so please Pardon My Bias.